Dialogues Dispatch - Where The Buffalo Roam

Google’s SVP of Research, Technology & Society James Manyika and Ngaire Woods, Founding Dean of University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, discuss the role of policy in maximizing AI’s benefits and minimizing its risks. In this conversation, they touch on the need for governments to access data and technology, the challenges of cybersecurity, and more.

Google & Alphabet’s President of Global Affairs, Kent Walker, and MIT Principal Research Scientist Andrew McAfee discuss generative AI’s potential to accelerate technological progress and create wide-ranging impact across economies and societies. They cover predictions about AI’s productivity benefits, job categories most likely to be impacted, and the importance of a bold and responsible approach to AI.

Google’s SVP of Research, Technology & Society James Manyika and Anna Greka, Professor, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, dive into the use of AI in scientific and medical research—in particular, how it helps scientists understand genetic diseases and develop targeted treatments. They discuss the importance of collaboration and open science, and the need to address risks and challenges associated with AI, including misuse and "missed use".

Former Diplomat and Member of Parliament and Senior Advisor of NGO GiveDirectly, Rory Stewart, and Jigsaw CEO Yasmin Green have a candid conversation about the impact of AI on democracy and the role of policy in shaping AI’s development. Covering the internet’s potential as a democratic tool, citizen assemblies, and the risks of AI, they also underscore the importance of balancing technological advancements and democratic values in order to create a more inclusive and informed society.

Lord Nicholas Stern, Chair of London School of Economics’ Grantham Research Institute, and Google's SVP of Research, Technology & Society, James Manyika, have a conversation about the need for inclusive systemic change, and the role of AI in transforming various sectors, such as energy, transport, and cities. They call for proactive measures to invest in both people and places affected by technological change, and cite examples of how AI is already being used to mitigate climate change and adapt to its effects.

Project Everyone Co-Founder Kate Garvey, and President of Google EMEA Matt Brittin discuss the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and the role of AI in achieving them globally. They speak candidly about the exciting progress that’s been made and the substantial work ahead, touching on the need for collaboration across sectors, the risks associated with AI, and the need to hold leaders accountable.